From Splash Brothers to Pool Boys

But for isolated stretches, Golden State guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — AKA the Splash Brothers, or The Best Shooting Backcourt in NBA History — haven’t been their normal, shot-swishing selves against the Spurs.

Since his 22-point third quarter in Game 1, Curry is shooting 35.6 percent.

Since his 29-point first half in Game 2, Thompson is shooting 32.7 percent.

Here are their shot charts — Curry first, Thompson second — with regular season on the left and the current series on the right.

You can’t reasonably defend a shooter of Curry’s caliber much better than the Spurs have. He’s below his personal percentage in all five 3-point ranges, and three of five in the mid range.

San Antonio’s tactic of running him off the line at all costs is illustrated by his attempts around the rim, where he’s a below-average shooter: 3.1 per game during the regular season, 4.8 per game against the Spurs.

What’s most notable for Thompson isn’t necessarily the percentage, although it must be noted how inflated it is by his ridiculous 11-for-18 in the first half of Game 2. Rather, it’s the shots he’s not getting.

Thompson averaged more than six 3-point attempts per game during the regular season. He’s at four against the Spurs and dropping fast after taking just two and zero in the last two contests.

Kawhi Leonard, and to a lesser extent Danny Green, are doing most of the work, but how exactly? We’ll leave the nitty-gritty Xs and Os to Coach Nick via another one of his fantastic breakdowns at B-Ball Breakdown.